He was one of those half-thinking brains which adopt all visions, all manias of a gigantic sort.

He was believed to be deep, he was really shallow; night and day he was raving of philosophy, liberty, equality, net product." "He is too much (trop fort) for me," M.
de Maurepas would often say.

"A man must be possessed (or inspired-- _enrage_)," wrote Malesherbes, "to force, at one and the same time, the hand of the king, of M.de Maurepas, of the whole court and of the Parliament." Perhaps the task was above human strength; it was certainly beyond that of M.Turgot.

Ever occupied with the public weal, he turned his mind to every subject, issuing a multiplicity of decrees, sometimes with rather chimerical hopes.

He had proposed to the king six edicts; two were extremely important; the first abolished jurorships (_jurandes_) and masterships (_maitrises_) among the workmen.